Disturbing footage has emerged showing a three-year-old boy allegedly steering a Toyota Hilux ute as it was driven along suburban streets in Alkimos, in Perth's north, prompting a 30-year-old man to be charged with reckless driving. The video, posted online on Friday, appeared to show the unrestrained toddler sitting on the man's lap with his hands on the wheel while the vehicle swerved across the road, with the man filming and urging the child to "steer" and "go straight" before the ute mounted a footpath. Western Australian authorities have condemned the incident as deeply concerning, warning it could have ended in tragedy.

The man was arrested at a property in Morley on Saturday and is due to appear at Joondalup Court on 2 October. WA Police Superintendent Michael Dalla-Costa said allowing a young child to control a moving vehicle, especially unrestrained, could have serious consequences, while WA Minister Matthew Swinbourn said he was angered by the footage, stating the child could have faced death or permanent injury had an accident occurred, and stressed that road safety is everyone's responsibility.